Visit Kellee and Ricki at UnleashingReaders and Jen at Teach Mentor Texts to see what they've been reading, along with others who post their favorites. Your TBR lists will grow! Happy Reading!Share with the hashtag #IMWAYR
Yes, it's May and we carry on! I hope this month finds you continuing to do well, finding great books to enjoy, time to be outside enjoying your family and spring blooms. Perhaps in a safe way, you'll get to see some friends again? There are still challenges and an overwhelming list of people who need help.
TODAY - 3 pm Central Time, Laura Purdie Salas is having a launch party for her new book, Secrets of the Loon. Find the details here! They're giving away copies, too!
This is so well researched, filled with information, primarily about the book but early on very much about Louisa May Alcott and her family, with added information throughout about them. Rioux has written nine chapters, created in three parts. It starts at the beginning with "The Making of a Classic", continues on with "The Life of a Classic" and finishes with "A Classic for Today". I have read Little Women several times through the years and with students but had no idea of the ups and downs of this book as it aged through different periods in history and no idea of the many films and television series that have been made. The book was written before this recent film out, but Rioux did refer to it. I wonder what she thought of it? That final Part Three includes arguments for reading today, what has happened to it in the past and what may happen with it in this century.
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| from my #MustReadin2020 list |
I finished these next two books from Candlewick Press, Walker Books, in exchange for reviewing. I am very grateful that I have these copies. I miss the library very much! And I have an order coming from my local Indie, Tattered Cover. The good thing is that they are overwhelmed with orders. The bad part of that is that it takes a while to get the books. But, I'm willing to wait and am excited for new ones on their way!
An eleven-year-old protagonist, a Stalin camp in Siberia filled from his terrible 'purge', and an escape that turns into a magical fantasy powered (at first) by a terrifying witch gives a story that stumbles into scary moments nearly day after day! A young girl, Lina, is part of an escape attempt (approved by her mother as the only possibility to save her daughter) and is suddenly plunged into the freezing Siberian wasteland with dangerous companions and one true friend; a young boy called Bogdan. Thank goodness for this relationship which was a strong support as Lina and others face daunting challenges over and over again.
A mystery concerning her parentage. Could her father be the vicious camp commandant? There is the overarching search for the grandmother that Lina is certain will help her return to rescue her mother. There are the tiny hints that Lina's grit to overcome terrible creatures like those in the escape group or those things called "ghost wolves" reveal that she might not be just a young girl wanting more of life than a prison camp; she might have some extra power of her own!
This story that begins as historical fiction turned quickly into a fantasy based on Russian folklore (Baba Yaga, Baboushka etc) as the group, then only Lina and Bogey meet up with a sorceress and fight to continue their journey towards Moscow in search of Lina's grandmother.
There is more and more and more, revealing so many secrets about this mystery grandmother, a shadow child, a special necklace, and Lina, thoughtful Lina, herself. For a middle-grade story, I enjoyed it, but perhaps another venture into old Russia would fulfill my dream to have more of the story from Lina, her friends old and new, and her family. I enjoyed Nevertell very much. And I'll "Never Tell" all the secrets! You'll need to discover them yourselves!
Thanks to Candlewick Press & Walker Books-US for the advanced copy!